Single-spark ignition system.



E. S. LINCOLN.

SINGLE sum 1111111 1011 SYSTEM.

' 1 11101111011 rum) no. e, 1909. 1,01 7,300. Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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@em f/w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN S. LINCOLN, 0F BROOKLIN'E, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC GbODS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE,

SINGLE-SPARK IGNITION SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

Application filed December 6, 1909. Serial No. 581,645.

To ail whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, EDWIN S. LINCOLN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Single-Spark ignition Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electrical apparatus associated and combined to form an ignition system adapted to energize the ignition devices of engines, motors, or the like, of the internal combustion type, so as to produce at the desired moment an electric discharge, which, passing between such ignition devices, or spark points, as they are commonly more specifically termed, located in a cylinder of such motor, ignites a vaporized charge of combustible in such motor cylinder.

Usually such ignition systems, where applied to a multicylindered engine or motor, embody a source of energy, a plurality of induction coils individually electrically connected in operative relation with the ignition devices of one of the cylinders of the motor which said ignition system is designed to control, selective means by which the source of energy may be placed in electrical communication with the desired induction coil, and a circuit breaker, interc-alatcdin the energizing circuit between the primary winding of the induction coil and thesource of energy, by which the circuit through such p imary winding may be interrupted and current induced in the secondary winding of such coil by which an electric spark is produced at the ignition device or. spark points.

My invention more especially relates to those ignition systems comprising the elements just named in which the operation of the circuit breaker is effected by magnetism produced in an elcctromagnet when its Winding is placed in circuit with a source of electrical energy, and preferably the same source of energy as that by which the induction coils are energized; said encrgization being furthermore caused to occur but once during the period when the source of energy is electrically connected with a given induction coil, so that only a single spark is produced at the ignition device or spark plug.

The objects of my invention are to produce an ignition system of the nature just described, in which a single rotating or moving member, forming a art of said selective means, performs, simu taneously both the functions of electrically connecting the source of energy with the ignition device of the desired motor cylinder, and of making the electrical connections necessary to cause the operation of the spark producing instrumcntalities; said selective means furthermore being preferably so constructed and so electrically connected in operative relation with thecoiiperating elements of the ignition system, that the performance of such double function is repeated a'plurality of times during the course of a single revolution of the rotating member of the said selective means.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the construction of the special apparatus hereinafter termed the distributertimcr, and in t e assembly of such apparatus in operative r ation with other electrical instrumentalities, in the manner shown in the accompanying drawings and more fully set forth and described in the following specification.

In said drawings, Figure 1 shows diarammatically my invention as embodied in its preferred form for application to an engine or motor having two cyllndcrs. Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically a modified form of my invention more especially adapted for use where it. is desired to employ a direct current generator for the purpose of energizin the ignition system. Fig. 3 presents a fart er modification of my invention showing the same as preferably applied to motors having four cylinders.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 represents the casing of the distributcutimer which I cn'lploy in my ignition system, the said casing being made of insulating mate rial and having the four contact elements. as for example the blocks 2, il. l, and 5 mounted therein as shown. The rotating member of the ignition system forms a part of the distributentimer, being positively driven by the engine or motor so that it revolves about a central shaft ('1 concentrically located With respect to the contact surface of the said contact blocks 2, 3, 4, and 5. Said rotating member or timer arm as it is hereinaftcr more specifically termed embodies the two arms 7 and 8 projecting from a metrically op )ositc as to each other. At the end of eac of said arms 7 and 8 is car ried a contact element which preferably forms an integral portion of the arm, and

adapted to make electrical connection successively with each of the contact blocks 2, 3, 4, and 5 as the rotating member revolves. Said contact blocks 2 and 3, hereinafter calleddistributer contact blocks, are separated by such an angular distance that the interval between the engagement of contact 2 by a timer arm and the engagement of contactl-B by the same timer arm approximatelv corresponds to the interval between the ignition of the explosive charge in one engine cylinder and the succeeding ignition in another cylinder. The contact'blocks 4 and .5 are so located-with respect to the timer arms, andto the distributer contact blocks 2 and 3, that one timer arm engages the sam Substantially 'at the same instant that the other arm of the timer engages the contact block 2 or 3. That is, both said timer arms, or more accurately, the contact surfaces or elements carried by the said timer arms, engagecontemporaneously with contacts, 2 and .4, or with contacts 3 and 5.

In other words, the contact elements carried by the rotating member are adapted to con: temporaneously interengage in the different operative positions of said rotating member,

' with the contact elements carried on the stationary member, so as to form two pairs;

one of the timer armcontacts forming, with the distributer contact, one pair of interengaging contact elements, and the second timer arm contact forming, with the timer contact, the second pair of interengaging contact elements.

In adapting my system to a two cylinder motor, I set the contacts 2, 3, 4, and 5 substantially at 90 degrees apart as shown.

At 9 and 10 are represented induction coils, having secondary windings which lead respectively to spark points 11 and 12 loeated in the cylinders of an internal com; bustion motor. The primary winding of said induction coil S) is electrically connected at one end to contact 2, and'the primary winding of induction coil 10 is similarly connected to contact B. The other ends of both said primary windings are joined in a common conductor 13 leading to a contact screw 14 and the movablearmature 15 of a cir cuit breaker, which normally electrically engages the contact screw 1 1. The other pole of said battery 16 is in electrical connection, preferably through a switch 17 and by grounding, or in any other desired manner, with both the arms 7 and 8 of the rotating member of the distributer timer. It is therefore apparent that when either 01'' the timer arms is in contact with either of the distributor contacts 2 or 3, an electric current from the battery will energize the primary winding of the induction coil with which the contact engaged by such arm. leads.

For the purposes of interrupting the flow of electric current through the primary winding of the induction coil so as to produce a high tension discharge at the spark points, I employ instrumentalities including separable contacts intercalated in the energizing clrcuit and having an actuating windmg preferably the winding of an electro magnet 18, adapted to cause the disengagement of the separable contacts by attracting the armature 15 away from the contact screw 14:. One terminal of said magnet winding is connected to one Opole of battery 16,

the other end of the sai winding being in electrical connection with both.c0ntacts 4 and 5, said contacts being hereinafter termed timer contacts. the rotating timer arms is in engagement with eitheritimer contact the other end of Hence when either of the actuating or magnet winding will, be

. placed in electrical connection with the unengaged-pole of battery 16 through the rotatin timer arm andthe switch 17, and said attery in consequence connected by the actuatin magnet win ing, Preferably a condenser 19 15 connected in usual manner around the Separablecoptacts carried on the contact screw 14 and'bn the movable armature 15.

circuit with the actuating or.

My invention operates inthe following manner: Assuming the timerarm to rotate in a clockwise directlon, and to be so driven as to approach the position shown in Fig. '1

when. it is desired to produce'an igniting spark at the spark points, 11, it is apparent that as the timer arm 7 first makes contact with the distributor contact block 2, current will flow from the battery 16 through the primary winding of induction coil 9 ener' gizing the same. The other timer arm 8 will engage timer contact block tpraotically.

simultaneously with the engagement of arm 7 and distributer contact block '2.' In consequence the electric circuit through the ma et 18 will be completed and the'mag netism set up in the same will draw down the movable armature 15 and-causing the sepa ration of' the same from the contact "crew 14. As it result the circuit through the in duction coil 9 will be broken, and current will be induced inthe secondary winding of the same which will cause an igniting spark to be discharged between the spark points 11. Preferably the timer arm- 8 should remain in engagement?" with timer contact block 4 until the contact between timer arm" 7 ceased, so as to prevent any subsequent encrgization of the induction coil, with conscqucnt waste of current. As the time for producing a spark in the other cylinder of the motor approaches, the timer arm 7 will apand distributer contact 2 hasv preach the distributor contact block 3, and as it engages the same, the other timer arm 8 will engage timer contact block 'As before, the spark producing instrumentalities will become operative to cause induction coil 10 to reduce an ignitin discharge between spar points 12. Furt ier rotation of the timer shaft will bring timer arm 7 into its diametrically opposite position; that is, into the position in which timer arm 8 is shown in Fig. 1. In such position arm 1' will engage with timer contact 1, and arm 8 will be in position occupied by arm 7 in Fig. 1 and be in contact with distributor contact 2. As before, induction coil 9 will be energized by battery 16. and the magnet 18 will become operative to break the primary circuit and cause a spark at spark points 11. Still another quarter turn. of the timer shaft will bring timer arm 7 into engagement with timer contact 5; timer arm 8 at the same time engaging distributor con tact 3. In this position the sparking iustrumcntalities will again become operative to produce a spark at spark points 12. After traversing another arc of 90 the rotating member will complete its cycle of operations reaching its initial position; that is, as it appears in Fig. 1. i

Fig. 2 shows a modification of my invention which is especially adapted for use where it is desired to employ a direct current generator in lace of a battery a source of energy. n such modification the distributer-timer has in general the same characteri tics as that hercinabove described in the connection with Fig. 1, comprising the casing 21 carrying the distributor con-- tacts 22 and '23, and the timer contacts 2i and 25; and a rotating member having the two arms 27 and 28 which are adapted to make contemporaneous contact with two of said contacts in two of its positions of roletion. As in the case of Fig. l distributor contacts 22 and 23 lead to the induction coils 29 and 30 by which the spark points 31 and 32 are energized. Said induction coils are connected through a common conductor to brush 36 of a generator 36, by a circuit which includes two separable contacts comprised in the adjustable contact screw 34 and the armature 35. As before, the separation of said separable contacts is caused by magnetism produced in a magnet 38 at the desired time.

For the purpose of magnetizing said magnet 38 an independent battery 35) is preferably enu'iicycd. having one pile connected to both timer contacts 24 and 1 and its other pole. connected with the timer arms 27 and through the magnet 38. switch blade 42, and conductor Said timer arms :2? and 28 are also connected to brush 33* of the generator 36; a double pole switch 42 being preferably employed as shown, arranged to simultaneously connect said timer arms with brush 36 and the magnet 38.

Preferably the condensers 10 and 41are employed condenser 40 being connected in shunt aroundthe contact screw 34 and armature 35; and condenser 41 being connected in between the timer contacts 24 and 25 and the conductor &3 leading to said rotating member. 7 a

In the modification now under description the distributor contacts 22 and 23 should preferably have a somewhat longer bearing surface than those of the timer contacts 24 and 25, and be so situated upon the casing that that arm of the timer which is about to engage opeLof said distributor contacts will come in contact with it slightly in advance of the time when the other arm of the rotating member engages the timer contact as indicated in the dotted position shown in Fig. 2. The object of this is to permit the potential of the generator to build up to its normal operating voltage before the engagement of the rotating member with the mag not contact causes the operation of the spark producing instrumentalities.

If desired an alternating current generator or magneto may be substituted in place of either the direct current generator 36 or the battery 39. In such case the magneto armature should be arranged to rotate at such a rate and in such an angular relation to the position of the timer arm that the armature of said magneto is preferably approaching its position of maximum current generation when the timer arms are about to engage the timer and distributor contactsv As a result of the constructions hereinbefore described it will appear that in the course of a. single rotation of the rotating member there are two positions in which the same becomes effective to render the ignilion device of each cylinder operative, whcr as, so far as I am aware, in similar systems and apparatus used in connection therewith. as .now employed, such rotating member is adapted to render the ignition dc vice operative only in one position of rotation. Hence, the rotating member may be operated at a speed of rotation which is onehalf that. which would be necessary were my invention not employed.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of my invention which is more particularly adapted for motors which have four cylinders. Referring to said Fig. the casing 51 of the dis tributer timer formed of insulating mate rial. carries four distributor contacts, 52. 53. 34. and 55. and it also carries, mounted in said casing at points substantially diametrirnlly opposite. to the timer contacts. the timer contacts 56, 57, 58, and 59. As before pointed out inconnection with Figs. 1 and 2, the rotating member is arranged to revolve about a central shaft, and embodies the two timer arms 61 and 62, said arms l through the actuation of the circuit breaker being arranged to engage with each of said distributor contacts and said magnet contacts in the course of a revolution of the roating member. The distributor contacts 52, 53, 54, and 55 are in electrical connection, respectively, with the primary windings of the induction coils 63, 64, 5 and 66. primary windings of induction coils 63 and 65 are electrically connected by a common conductor 71 with one pole of a source of elifctrical energy 72, through the contact screw 73 and the movable armature 74, which is normally in engagement therewith. Similarly induction coils 6-1, and 66 are con nected through a common conductor 77 with said source of energy 72 through the contact screw 76 and the movable armature 7T. Condensers 78 and 79 are preferably provided, the former being connected in shunt around the contact screw 73 and ariiiaturo 74 and the latter around the contact screw 76 and the armature 77. As is the case with the embodiment of my invention described in Figs. 1 and 2, the actuation of the armatures Ti and 7? is effected by means of the magnets 80 and S1. and are connected by a common conductor 82 through the winding of the magnet 81 to one pole of the source of energy 72. timer contacts 56 and 58 are connected by the common conductor 83 to the winding of magnet 80, and thence through the same to the same pole of the source of energy 72, to which the magnet 81 is connected. The other pole of the source of energy 72 is connect d to the rotating member so that both of the timer arms 61 and (32 carried thereon are in electrical connection with said source of energy. Switch 84 is preferably inserted in the circuit between the source of energy and the rotating member for the purpose of di connecting said source of energy from the ignition system when desired.

The mode of operation of the modification described in Fig. 3 is analogous to that of the embodiments of my invention described in Figs. 1 and That is, the rotating member. in the position shown in Fig. 3 serves not only to establish the electrical conncclions necessary to encrgizcdhe induction coil (32 but to cause an electrical discharge at spark points 6? through the actuation ot the r spark producing iiistriiineiitalitiesas a result of the magnetization of magnet 80. Said to toting member will also ierform the same double Function when sai rotating member has revolved 180 so as to come into a position diametrically opposite to that in which it a 'ipcars in Fig. 3. Similarly when the rotating member has advanced one eighth of 011iltflt'illiliflfl in a (lUUlCJVIRP direction. it 1 energizing and actuating circuits independwill establish the electrical connections necessary to energize the induction coil 64 and to cause a discharge at spark points 8 The The timer contacts 57 The ' tion. reaches a diametrically opposite position, it will operate to establish the same electrical connections as in its former position, and thereby will cause in that position, a second electrical discharge between the spark points 68. Still further rotation will cause the rotating member to separately and successively engage the distributed contacts 54 and as leading to induction coils 65 and 66, and also simultaneously to engage the timer contacts 58 and 59 respectively, so as to eli'cct the operation of the spark producing instruinentalities through the successive magnetization of magnets 81] and '81. As before, said induction coils 65 and 6G and also magnets 80 and 81 areagain simultaneously energized when the rotating member has advanced a half revolution beyond its original operative position.

It will be noted that in the modification now being described the magnets 90 and 91 are energized alternatively for the purpose of operating the spark producing instrumcir talities. Such use of alternatively operating spark producing means has been found advisable iii ignition systems where the inter val between the successive niagnetizatioiis of the magnebactuating the circuit breaker,

reason a satisfactory operation of the spark inducing instrumeiitalities, when the rotating member was revolving at a relatively rapid rate of revolution, could notbe socured. in such cases by the use of a'plurality of spark producing instrumentalities arranged to be alternatively operated my system may be rendered available for use in motors in which the ignition at the dil'ferent cylinders occurs with such frequency as to be beyond the range of successful operation of a system of my type employing only a single set of spark producing lIlFl llr ment alities.

I claim p l. in an electric discharge producing sys tem. in combination; a source-of metric energy; an induction coil: an nergizing circuit adapted to connect the source of oncigy with the coil; a circuit interrupter lltlY ing separable contacts intcrcalatcd in said energizing circuit, said interrupter including an actuating winding for causing the separation of the said contacts; an actuating ircuit adapted to connect the source of energy with the actuating winding; and m nus for contciiiporancously closing said ently.

2. In an electric discharge producing systom, in combination; a source of electric en ergy; an induction coil; a distributor-timer having a distrlbuter contact, 'a timer contact, and a rotating member having contact making surfaces adapted to contemporaneously engage both said distributor contact and said timer contact independently; an energizing circuit extendin from said distributor contact through said source of en ergy and the coil to one of said contact making surfaces; a circuit interrupter having separable contacts intercalated in said energizingcireuit, said interrupter including an actuating Winding for causing the separation of said separable contacts; and an actuating circuit extending from said timer contact through the actuating Winding and said source of energy to another of sald contact makifg surfaces.

In an electric discharge prmiucing sys tern, in combination; a source of electric energy; an induction coil having a primary Winding; a circuit interrupter having rable contacts, and embodying a niagnetiz ing Windin for eliecting the separation of said contacts; a circuit controller having a distributor contact and a timer contact, and rotating member carrying a piurality of contact surfaces, one of said surfaces being adapted to engage said distributor con tact in the course of the rotation of the arm and another of said surfaces being adapted contemporaneously to engage said timer contact at the moment of discharge; electric connections connecting said contact surfaces collectively with one terminal of said source of energy; an electric circuit adapted toconnect said distributor contact through the separable contacts and the primary Winding with the second terminal of said source of energy; and an electric circuit, electri :ally distinct from the circuit just incutioned, adapted to connect said timer contact with said second terminal of the source of energy through said magnetizing winding.

4. In an ignition system, in combination; a source of electric energy; a plurality of induction coils having primary windings; a circuit breaker having separable contacts, a d embodying a magnetizing winding for etl'ecting the separation of said contacts; a distributentimer having a plurality of dis tribute-r contacts and a plurality of timer contacts, and a rotating member carrying a piurality of contact surfaces, one of said contact surfaces being adapted to engage said distributor contacts in succession as said arm rotates, and another of said contact surfaces being adapted, contemporaneously with such engagement and at the moment. of ignition, to engage a timer contact; electric connectionsconnecting said contact surfaces with one-terminal of said source of energy; independentelectric circuits adapted to separately connect said dis; tributer contacts through the selected primary findings and through the separable contacts with the second terminal of said source of energy; and a circuit electrically distinct from the circuits just mentioned adapted to connect said timer contacts collectively with said second terminal of the source of energy through said magnetizing Winding. a

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN 's. LINCOLN.

Witnesses:

NATHAN B. DAY, CHAS. F. RANDALL;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. G." 

